Electrical switch



T. Fes-www5 ELEGTMCAL SWITCH Filed April 5o, 1924 mw m Patented May 11, 1926.

UNITED STATES THOMAS RHODUS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

Application led April 30, 1924. Serial No. 709,967..

This invention relates more particularly to that type of electrical switches in which means are provided for obtaining a rapid ci' snap movement between the contact parts in making and breaking an electric circuit iii which it is arranged, and the present improvement has for its object To provide a structural formation and combination of parts and mechanisms wherebv theusual rapid or snap movement of the f movable contact blade is effectively attained and by means of which a sliding surface cleaning contact movement between the movable and fixed contact plates or members, in angular relation to the path in which the contact end of the movable Contact blade moves in making and breaking contact, is simultaneously attained when making contact in a simple and effective manner, all as wili hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing Figs. 1 and 2 are companion top views, with parts in section, showing the present switch mechanism, the open and the closed conditions thereof.

Figs. 3 and 4 are like companion side elevations of the same, with the supporting base shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a top view of a modification, in which the operating pin or stud of the mechanism has rectilinear reciprocating movement in place of the rotary reciprocating movement illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts in the several views. f

In the construction shown in the drawing, as illustrative of the present improvement, the supporting base 1 may constitute a portion of an enclosing shell, casing or other part of a stationary member of the apparatus to which the switch is applied, and as usual the base 1 provides means for the attachment, in proper insulated relation, of the stationary contact member 2, usually in the form of apair of resilient Contact plates, and of the pivotal support for the rocking contact blade 3 of the switch mechanism. The contact member 2 may be of a rigid form and the resilient contact blades may be carried by the contact blade 3.

In the present improvement the rocking contact blade 3, is preferably of the obtuse angular plate form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, pivoted near its mid-length to the movable end of the hereinafter described rocker link 4, and with its upper edge formed with inclined contact wings v5 and 6 against which a manually actuated operating stud or pin 7 has operative contact, to impart rocking movement to the contact blade 3, in the operation of the mechanism.

The operating stud or pin 7 may be cari'ied as a radially projecting element of an operating spindle 8, the journal bearings of which have fixed relation to the base 1, as

shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. Or the said stud or pin 7 may be'carried by a sliding` bar 8 adapted for manual reciprocation in guides arranged in fixed relation to the base 1, as illustrated 1n Fig. 5.

In the present improvement the aforesaid rocker link or bar 4 is pivoted by a pivot 9 at one end in a. suitable pivot bracket 9 on the base 1 and at its other end has supporting attachment to the rocking contact blade 3 by a pivot pin 10.I` With a view to attainv i,

or snap action of the parts, provisions asV follows are made:

A spring 13 is fixed at one end to a post 14 or other usual means on base 1, and at its other end is attached to a lateral stud 15 on the side of the contact blade 3, at a point a distance removed from the point of pivotal connection 10 between said contact blade 3 and its carrying link or rocker 4 aforesaid.

The arrangement is such that in the operation of the present switch mechanism, and with the parts in the open or broken circuit position shown in Fig. 3, with a manual actuation of the operating stud or pin 7 tothe right in said view said stud or pin pushes against the contact wing 5 ,of the movable contact blade 3 and initially effects a rocking movement of said blade and moves its carrying link 4 upon the pivot 9 of said link in the bracket 9 aforesaid, from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, to the position shown in dotted lines in said view. The further movement to the right of the operating pin or stud 7 tends to tilt the-contact end of the blade 3 downward toward the stationary contact member 2 until one end of fthe spring 13 and the'line of-stress of said spring are moved downward past the center of said operating stud or pin 7, and after such movement the spring 18 is-adap'ted to exert a tensional strain on the parts and draw or rock the combined contactblade and carrying link 4,. back from .the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, to that shown in 'full-lines in Fig. .4, and incidentally thereto Veffects the heretofore described sliding and cleaning contact movement between themovable andstationary contact members '.3 and 2 'of the 'switch mechanism. Then the said operating pin .or stud 7 is moved to .the left `from the position shown in Fig. Il, finto-contact wvith the `.wing Gfofcontact blade 13, further Ycontinued movement of said pin ,7 to the left 'restore the parts .tothe position shown fin :full .linesin Fig. 3.

tnzcases wherethespr'ng 18 aforesaid, .is omitted, yor where 4the `spring becomes -damfage'dor inoperative, .the continued travel of the operating stud orpin 7Z, will effect `a conttactbetween the said contact members 2 and f3 -ina slower manner, `by the continued contactimovement offsaid operating stud or pin 7 .against .the contact wing -of the contact ybla/de 3, to ,the right in Fig. 41:, .and without Vthe snap .action which said spring would effect ,Havingtthus fully .described my invention,

. what .I 'claim-and desire to secure by Letters il. In Yan electric switch, ,the combination of a support, .a .stationary fcontact member lsecured .to ysaid support, .a v.movable .contact .member ,pivoted on'said supportin operative relation .to said 4stationary .contact .member V.by a .rocker link .pivoted .at one end .to the movable member and at the fother. end tosaid f-support, fand loperating means 'imparting movement .to-'said rocker link by .direct en- Afgagement .with said .movable rmeniber.

'2. In .an electric switch, fthe combination cfm-stationary support, astationary contact member .secured to said support, .-a movable contact .member pivoted on .said support .in operative relation to VYsaidstationary contact -member-bya rocker link vpivotedat one end vto the .movable .member and .at the other endto .said support, va yspring connected to l.said .movable member :and .arranged to exert `.a'tension thereon ina direction across the point of pivotal `connection between said memberzand the frockerlink, and .means for .impartingrocking lmovements to said movalihle member-,by `directengagement therewith.

lIn anelectric-switch, the combination .of a stationary support, af'stationary fcontact member .secured to fsaid support, .a movable l contact imember ypivoted `onsaid support in operative `relation =to said stationary Contact member byfa rocker .link mivotcd at one .end to the movable member .and at the other end to said support, and means yfor imparting rocking movements to the same comprising a pair of inclined wings on the movable contact member and an operating stud moving lin operative frelation to said wings.

Li.. In 'an electric switch, the combination of asta'tionary support, a stationary contact ,member secured .to said support, a movable contact lmember pivoted on said support in.

operative relation to said stationary contactmember lby a rocker link pivoted at one end to .the movable member and at the other end to said support, a Spring connected to said.

movable .member and arranged toeXert a tension y.thereon in a direction across the point of pivotal connection between said member .and the rocker link, and means for imparting :rocking movements to said movable member, thesame comprising a pair of inclined wings on the movable ,contact member and `an operating stud moving in operative relation yto said wings.

.5. In Van electric switch the combination of ya'support, a stationary contact member secomprising a cam surface on the movable contact member and any operating stud movinoperative relation to said surface.

7. In yan electric switch, the combination of a support, a stationary contact member secured :to said support, ,a movable contact member adapted to make contact with saidy .stationary contact member Vand held in bodily rocking .operative relation to i said stationary contactmemberby a rocker link, an operating studmoving inoperative relation to yandhaving a ,point of contact upon said movable vcontact member, (and a spring arranged to exert a tension upon said movable contact member in va direction across the -said point :of contact of the said operating stud upon said vmovable contact member.

8; In. an electric switch, Athe combination of a support, a stationary Contact member secured to said support, a movable contact member adapted to vmake contact with said stationary contact .member and held in bodily rocking operative relation -to said :stationary 4contact .member by ya'. rocker .link pivoted near one end to ythemovable contact `mcmberand pivotednear `the other end .to a support, an operating stud moving in operative relation to and having a point of oonmovable Contact member in a direction tact upon said movable Contact member, and across the point of Contact of said operating 10 a spring arranged to exert a tension upon stud upon said movable Contact member said movable Contact member in a direction when the operating stud is in another posiacross the point of pivotal connection betion.

tween said movable Contact member and said Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 28th day rocker link when the said operating stud is of April 1924.

in one position and to exert tension on said THOMAS RHODUS. 

